Public Perception of the Data Environment and Information Transactions: A selected-survey analysis of the European public's views on the data environment and data transactions

Dara Hallinan and Michael Friedewald
Additional contact information
Dara Hallinan: Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, Germany
Michael Friedewald: Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, Germany

Communications & Strategies, 2012, vol. 1, issue 88, 61-78

Abstract: When engaging in data transactions, it has consistently been observed that individuals' behaviour does not correspond with individuals' theoretically stated preferences about privacy and the importance of personal data. This paper considers this 'paradox'. First, through an analysis of selected surveys, we elaborate a picture of how the public perceives the data environment and their interaction with it. We find that, whilst the public places significant weight on the values of privacy and data protection and has a formal understanding of the features of the data environment, there is a significant knowledge deficit relating to the specifics of data flows and processing. Although the public felt that they were being forced into engaging in an ever increasing number of data transactions, they lacked the clarity and understanding to evaluate the significance of these transactions either at the individual or social level. We then consider how these findings relate to specific transactions involving personal data transfer. Acquisti and Grossklags theorise that decision making may be unbalanced by limited information, bounded rationality issues, psychological distortions and ideology and personal attitudes. Using the findings from our selected survey analysis, we add substance to these claims. The lack of understanding of the data environment coupled with the necessity to act in this environment accounts for impacts on each limiting factor and reduces the ability for the individual to 'rationally' balance each transaction. Awareness of issues (and the importance allocated to personal data) on an abstract scale does not translate to the apparently corresponding action in concrete situations.

Keywords: privacy; trust; personal data; data protection; privacy paradox; public opinion; consumer behaviour. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D01 D81 D82 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://repec.idate.org/RePEc/idt/journl/CS8803/CS88_HALLINAN_FRIEDEWALD.pdf

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:idt:journl:cs8803

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Communications & Strategies from IDATE, Com&Strat dept. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by BLAVIER Thomas ( this e-mail address is bad, please contact ).